You do realize that most of the current USL teams are less than 5 years old? The past 2 to 3 years has seen a whole bunch of expansion teams joining the league. It might be time that you started to pay a little more attention to what is going on. I can't say that I have followed soccer 60 + years like you have, but the last 4 or 5 years really have passed you by.
To illustrate a guy who was married to my wife's cousin told me he played pro soccer for a team in Roanoke. I first thought he said Richmond and for awhile I didn't really believe him. I did find out there was once a professional team in Roanoke and until someone puts another team their, I can say expansion hasn't become totally ridiculous.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_USL-2_clubs My favorite name is either the Columbus Xoggz or the Everett BigFoot.
Crew exists in part because of the popularity of Xoggz. Fans still bring them up and wear their jersey's
You're adorable. You're the guy with the sky is falling nonsense from 1998. You're the guy who time has passed by. Look, genius: 11 of the 13 D3 teams that started play between 2000-2013 folded. Since then, there have been 22 expansion teams in USL. (11 of them have been MLS2 teams.) One has gone away. (FC Montreal, because an affiliation with the recently moved from the NASL Ottawa became available and made more sense.) One. That's it. That's the list. Instead of the Cincinnati Kings, we get FC Cincinnati. Instead of Antigua, we get Arizona. Have you noticed what the "whole bunch of expansion teams joining the league" have in common? Either they're MLS2 teams, which are pretty solid regardless of what they draw because they have parent clubs that are solid, or they are independent teams that have been - for the most part - solid, with some spectacular. The difference between the recent spate of teams and the Marcos-era expansion teams (which is apparently when you last took a deep dive into it) could not be more stark. (Thanks in part to the USSF standards.) It's like when people compare the recent spate of MLS expansion to that of the original NASL and say it's the same thing all over and "warning, warning, warning." It's not. Those NASL clubs did not put down infrastructure, did not have to make the commitment these MLS clubs do, and are not in the same landscape. It's NOT the same thing. And neither is this. (By the way, I have been at this since about 1978, jagov. But whatever makes you feel less insecure about me knowing more than you, feel free.)
I love getting you riled up, Kenn! You have been at this since 1978? Man are you old. That is the same year that I became involved, so I am equally as old. I do understand all of the changes that have been going on. I worry that the foundation is still made of sand. At least there is a foundation now. MLS 2 teams are great, but where do they fit in the structure? Is owning two professional teams even financially sustainable? I don't know. How many teams and owners want to be involved with minor league soccer. You mention Arizona and Cincinnati. These are 2 teams that wish to move up to MLS. Will they be satisfied with permanent minor league status? I am even concerned that much of the increase in equity for MLS teams, is driven by the potential purchase price of expansion franchises. Demand exceeding supply. Once expansion is taken out of the equation, what becomes of the financial & business model? As someone involved in financial analysis and economic feasibility for a living, I love the business side of sports. Most professional sports leagues defy any economic reality. I understand the appeal of owning an MLS team. Even today, the economics and ego appeal still makes sense. But if I had to sell Division 3 franchises to potential investors, I wouldn't know where to begin. It would be really hard to draft a compelling selling proposition for consumer demand for such a league.
Then why do you again and again fail to account for them in your appraisal of the current state of lower division soccer in the US?
I'm surprised no one posted this yet. Looks like USL is going multi-tier in 2019. I'm wondering if there will be pro/rel in the two tiers.
It has its own thread since it was announced last month. https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/d3-division-announced-for-2019.2042491/ The statements from the USL haven't specifically ruled out pro-rel but it doesn't sound like that will be a part of the organization.
Many of the newer big market USL sides were already talking about MLS early on - and some of them are legitimate contenders. But they all can't get into the club. And it's not just USL teams - the same goes for Indy and North Carolina in the NASL. If they don't get in what happens? Do they sell? Do they take their ball and go home? Assuming USL won't apply for D 1 status with the MLS partnership in force, do the clubs mount a challenge to the status quo and go to the NASL - provided it lives long enough? All in all, the next decade *could* prove to be the most interesting in the history of U.S. club soccer.
I read an interesting theory on this potential a while back: http://midfieldpress.com/2016/01/17/why-mlss-expansion-to-28-or-32-teams-is-good-for-nasl-2/ It's long, but basically states that MLS capping out will inevitably leave certain markets out in the cold. Those on the periphery may accept USL/DivII no problem, but there are also those who may break away from USL and look to NASL to fulfill their ambitions.
It was a good article, although a few things have changed since then...mainly regarding the status of the two leagues. With the leagues now both at D 2 status, it's more about philosophy. What do you want your league to be? Independent or affiliated with MLS? If they stay at the D 2 level, are you OK with playing the MLS 2 sides for as much as half your home schedule?
I highly doubt Edmonton, Puerto Rico, Ottawa, Tulsa, Colorado Springs, Charleston, Reno, Charlotte, RGV, and a handful of others have any TRUE AND REAL aspirations of MLS Expansion. There are plenty of owners/clubs/markets that aren't D1 and are just fine with it. That is a thing that exists in this country's sporting landscape. Why is that hard for so many people to understand?
Aspirations and expectations are different things. Personally, I would expect every team to aspire to be at the highest level.
Of course they are ... but the point is that you can aspire to be at the highest level you can, and it NOT be the highest level available. Reality doesn't care much for hopes and dreams.
Why? If you own a team and you can't afford to operate at, or your market isn't big enough to support at, a higher level, why would you aspire to put yourself out of business? Some people are fine franchising McDonald's without aspiring to franchising Wolfgang Puck's.
My point wasn't about those cities, it was about Tampa Bay...and San Antonio among others. What happens if they don't get to MLS?
An Orlando SC, Tampa Bay FC, and a Miami FC (Becks) MLS can exist, it would be an awesome three way rivalry
If Tampa makes it in the team will be the Rowdies, not Tampa Bay FC. But yeah, the cities are close enough to make a great rivalry without poaching fans.
I caught your drift. I think that these existing teams who are aiming for MLS and don't get it may very well shift away from USL. I doubt all of them do. It's entirely possible they all stay. But the reality is that whatever is driving them to seek MLS will not be satisfied if they don't make the cut.